Casino bill clears House committee with significant changes
The General Laws Committee in the House of Delegates voted 12-8 on Feb. 24 to pass a heavily amended version of legislation to allow a casino in Fairfax County.
The bill (S756) now goes to the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Agriculture & Natural Resources.
The original bill, introduced by Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Mount Vernon) included criteria that limited the location of a casino to Tysons. An amended version of the bill, that would allow a casino in other locations in Fairfax County, was passed by the Senate earlier this month on a 23-14 vote.
The substitute bill passed by the House General Laws Committee includes many more changes proposed by Del. Paul Krizek (D-Fairfax).
While the original bill required a majority of Fairfax County residents to support a casino via a public referendum, the substitute bill also requires a majority of voters in the magisterial district where the casino would be located to also support it.
Even if the countywide referendum is passed, voters in the magisterial district could effectively veto it. If that happens, a casino could be proposed in another district, as long as the referendum is held before July 1, 2029.
Related story: Bill approved by Senate committee doesn’t limit a casino to Tysons
The revised bill also sets a 40 percent tax on the gross receipts of a casino in Fairfax County. That is a much higher level than that for other Virginia cities that already have casinos.
In addition, the bill would return more of a casino’s tax receipts to Fairfax County than required for casinos in other cities. Fifty percent of the tax revenues would go to Fairfax County, and 5 percent would go to Metro.
Virginia’s five other casinos are taxed on a graduated scale based on revenue, ranging from 18 percent to 30 percent.
Under the revised bill, the company that wins the bid to develop a casino in Fairfax County would need to pay $150 million for the gaming concession. Fairfax County would receive $75 million of the upfront fee, with the rest going to Richmond.
Under current Virginia law, enacted in 2020, the gaming licensing fee is just $15 million. That law allows casinos to operate in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Petersburg, and Portsmouth.
Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts have previously expressed interest in operating a casino in Fairfax County.
Okay good now reduce our property taxes. Yeah right we all know that won’t happen.
I find it curious that the Senator who’s been behind this idea for years doesn’t represent the area where he wants the casino to go…. Hmmm…. Wonder how HIS constituents would vote if it were proposed for THEIR area?
How close will this casino be to residential homes?
I understand some of the concerns behind a casino such as a crime and addictions but there are ways to combat the negatives and the casino can bring in a lot of revenue for schools and infrastructure. I don’t think this is a bad thing but there are a lot of people who are very against it so I doubt the voters in Fairfax vote yes. I would just stay away and enjoy the benefits our county gets from the revenue